Teeple, E. C. 1826 - 1912

TEEPLE, SMITH, YOEMAN

Posted By: Janice Sowers (email)
Date: 12/12/2006 at 18:55:29

From the Scrapbook of Newspaper Articles by Mrs. Lillian Wheeler

E. C. Teeple was born at London, Ontario Province, Canada, March 8, 1826. In 1855, he with his mother and brothers and sisters migrated to Iowa, where they settled in Howard county, where he lived until his death on Tuesday morning, June 4, 1912, after an illness of nine days, his age being 86 years, 2 months, and 26 days.

In the spring of 1857 he was married to Miss Ann Smith, and two children were born to this union; the first, a girl, lived but two months, and the second, a boy, lived but six months. The wife died in 1860.

On the 3rd of June, 1878, he was married to Mrs. Velona Yoeman. Three children were born to this union, who with their mother and three sisters and two brothers are left to mourn. His children were all provileged to be with him in his last hours, his daughter from North Dakota reaching his bedside but six or seven hours before his death.

The brothers and sisters were all present at his funeral except one brother in Savannah, Ga. Those attending from a distance were Mrs. S. F. Bryan of Williston, N. Dak., Mrs. A. C. Arnold of Waukon, Iowa, and George Teeple, a nephew, of Lincoln, Neb.

The empty place he has left in the lives of his loved one can never by filled, yet they are comforted and sustained in their hour of trial by the beautiful faith he displayed in his last days; by the assurance that what is their loss is his gain. He realized that his end was near and bade all those who were with him goodby, a few days previous, as calmly as if he were going on a journey. He charged them to tell all who asked, that he had no doubt or fear. He was glad to go to rest in the arms of Jesus and dreaded only the parting with the ones left here to mourn. It is not given to all children to know such a father's love; it was like unto that of our Heavenly Father.

He loved his fellow men and no one ever asked his aid in vain. He aspired not to great things, but desired always to produce his substance from the soil and his own toil. The trials of pioneer life were his; being the oldest of a large family, he assumed a father's place to the younter ones when his father died. Those who know him, know the difficulties under which he labored.

Another of Howard county's pioneers has answered the last call of the Master. His children bless and revere his memory. Blessed are they who die in the Lord; for them death has lost all its string.